Our Lord Holy Trinity, besides the spiritual gifts, which He gave to the Church, gave to every man natural aptitudes also. The aptitude to accumulate of images and to reproduce it by the means of painting is one of these natural human aptitudes. As others of it, this aptitude is neutral, i.e. its direction is in will of its bearer. A painter, who is servant of sinful passions, is boastful, covetous, lustful etc., and direction of his creative work is conditioned by his passions. While a painter, who had decided to be a ChristТs follower and to crucify together with Him, inevitably would be coming to icon-painting and, by the use of paints, he glorifying embodied Deity, theologizing as much as possibleЕ Thus, painter-Christian devotes his natural aptitude to that Person, Who gave it.

By the inexpressible GodТs mercy, it was happened and with me too. Gradually, I came to icon-painting, in which I do just a first steps, but even my little experience in it proved me, that I, who is prodigal sinner, was returned to native land, to FatherТs home.

I ask your holy prayers about GodТs servant Evgeniy.